Cat Nap

Greebo: I think I'll take a nap.

Zane: Hey! That's my chair! Is there room for two?

Greebo: Not so much. Could you, ummm, maybe...

Zane: Hey! I got you! You're in my chair!

Zane: You need a hug!

Greebo: No, really, it's fine. I'm fine could you just...

Zane: Hey! What's that?!??

Greebo: [sigh]

Confessions of an Internet Shopper

I shop on the internet. I know this doesn't sound like a shocking confession, most folks these days buy stuff from the great mall that is "The Internet", but I buy the sorts of things that most people like to at least fondle a bit before forking over thier money. Things like a refrigerator, a lawn mower (more on that another time), and groceries.

Yup, I buy my food from the internet.

But, but, but, you're hippies! You should be buying stuff from the farmers' market and getting your milk from places that you can pet the cows. You keep chickens! You should know the value of local food.

Before you're world view gets all spinny: I've read Michael Pollan too, and we try really hard to eat local food (mostly plants.)

We belong to two local food co-ops, both of which we order from on the internet. (Yes, even sedate ole Williamsburg is hip enough to warrent TWO co-ops.) One gives us mostly produce and the occasional chicken which we pick up once a week, and the other we get our milk and soap and occasionally other fun stuff from every other week.

Then there's the beef, we buy grass fed beef from heritage cows, from a guy on the internet. We place an order every 8 or 9 months, and it comes frozen in neat portions. We also buy a lamb every year, but that's from a local cheese maker and we do that over the phone.

That leaves very little that we aren't buying local. Mostly staples like wine, dried beans, toilet paper, mustard. (We like mustard.) That little bit I order online through our grocery store and pick up after work. They even have a call box outside the store so I don't have to go in or anything.

Keep in mind that we do have a reasonable budget we need to stick to, or things like the mortgage won't get paid. And the mortgage company likes it when we pay them. I like to shoot for $80 a week, which includes aforementioned wine, so $20 in food - just kidding, sort of.

All of my "shopping" is done by other people. Once a week I decide what we're going to eat and when then I order it all from the co-ops and the grocery store AFTER ZANE HAS GONE TO BED. Then I just swing by the various pickup spots after work before I grab the critter from daycare. Easy, convenient, and local. I don't even have to hit the over crowded, dog riddled, stroller clogged farmer's market on Saturday mornings.

Muesli

I have discovered something fantastic. Muesli. Not the stuff in the box that's been coated in corn syrup and malt powder, but fresh muesli you make at home.

It's stupid simple. I found the recipe here at the Family Kitchen.

Muesli

• 1 cup old-fashioned (large flake) oats

• 1 cup yogurt (any kind – I prefer a nice thick plain yogurt)

• A handful of chopped dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, dates, figs, apricots and/or mango) 

• A handful of chopped toasted nuts (almonds, pecans and/or hazelnuts)
• 1 apple, coarsely grated (don’t bother peeling it)
• 1 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup (according to taste and whether or not you used sweetened yogurt)

• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla (optional)

Stir everything together in a large bowl. Refrigerate it overnight and keep it in the fridge to dip into all week. Serves about 6.

It is awesome for so many reasons. Zane loves to eat apples whole, unfortunately he doesn't have the ability to finish one. Even if we rinse it at the end of lunch and give it to him again at dinner, then at breakfast, then at lunch, and again at dinner; he still can't get through it. I've been cutting the gnawed pieces out, dicing them, and sticking them in the freezer to use in apple muffins, but there are only so many apple muffins one family needs to eat.

It's also convenient, wholesome, filling, tasty, easy, and can go directly from the fridge to your tummy with minimum effort. Oh, and it' whips together in seconds (especially if you use the Cuisinart to grate the apple.)

I substituted Greek Yogurt, 'cause that's what we keep on hand. It's easier for Zane to practice his spoon skills on since it's thicker and sticks to the spoon (and his fingers, hair, face, chair, table, you get where this is going) better. I also used quick cooking oatmeal. It was what we had on hand, but it made the muesli pretty mushy. I would bet it's way better with regular oats.

I think I may experiment and try adding stuff like sprouted wheat berries, quinoa, flax seeds... I'm going to stop now before I start to sound even more like a hippie.

Keep in mind it's not a pretty food. I keep chickens, I know exactly what it looks like. This is probably why I can't get Zane to even try it. Yogurt is one of his favoritest foods, along with blueberries, pasta, and cat food. The kid is willing to put ANYTHING in his mouth at least once to see if it's tasty, and he won't try the muesli. Not even a little. Too bad, it just leaves more for Ryan and I.